Ice molding apparatus

ABSTRACT

A plurality of selectively and reversably superimposable planar and pocketed panels for nesting in a container and dividing the interior of the container into the same or different shaped chambers in which to form ice cubes, when the container, with water and the superposed panels are disposed therein, is subjected to below freezing temperatures. The various superimposable panels are of a size for nesting within a milk carton or the like after the upper end of the carton has been removed or unfolded to the fully open position.

ijnited States Patent Schupbach [451 Aug. 15, 1972 ICE MOLDING APPARATUS2,574,662 11/1951 Sampson ..249/71 72 I t i Dl67,567 8/1952 French..D9/188 1 fifggggg P 0 BOX 3,172,273 3/1965 Knepper .249/203 FilediJan. 12, 1970 Primary Examiner-J. Spencer Overholser AssistantExaminer-Ben D. Tobor [21] Appl' L331 Attorney-Clarence A. OBrien andHarvey B. Jacobson [52] US. Cl. ..249/127, 249/ 125, 249/126,

249/128, 249/129 57] ABSTRACT A plurality of selectively and reversablysuperimposa- D ble planar and pocketed panels for nesting in a con- 131tainer and dividing the interior of the container into the same ordifferent shaped chambers in which to [56] Ref Ci form ice cubes, whenthe container, with water and the superposed panels are disposedtherein, is sub- UNITED STATES PATENTS jected to below freezingtemperatures. The various superimposable panels are of a size fornesting within a gzgggz milk carton or the like after the upper end ofthe car- 2273184 2/1942 Elliott....::::::::::::::::249/126 x l? beenremwed the fully open 1,166,623 1/1916 Myers .249/131 x 2,367,573 1/1945Gibson v.249/69 X 3 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures 2,265,349 12/1941 Cole..249/69 PATENTEDAUG 15 I972 SHEET 1 OF 2 III!!! Melvin E. Schupbach NVNT PATENTED Am; 15 I972 SHEET 2 BF 2 Melvin E. Schdpbach in: Q7601- ICEMOLDING APPARATUS This invention relates to a novel and useful icemolding apparatus to be utilized in conjunction with an upstanding opentop container and the apparatus includes a plurality of selectively andreversably superimposable planar and pocketed panels. The ice moldingapparatus may be utilized without the planar panels (in which instanceonly the pocketed panels are used) or with the planar panels disposedbetween adjacent pocketed panels. When only the pocketed panels are usedwith the pockets of adjacent panels registered and opening toward eachother double size ice cubes as well as single size ice cubes may beformed. In addition both double and single size cubes may be formed whenthe planar panels are also used, although a larger percentage of singlesize cubes are formed when the planar panels are used. Still further,when a planar panel is disposed between the pocketed panels of each pairof adjacent panels only single sized ice cubes will be formed.

The ice molding apparatus of the instant invention is constructed in amanner whereby the ice cubes formed thereby may be readily broken loosefrom the molding apparatus and the latter is constructed in a mannerwhereby it may be utilized in conjunction with upright containers suchas discarded milk cartons enabling the ice molding apparatus and theassociated milk carton to be stored in an area having greater heightthan length or width.

The main object of this invention is to provide an ice molding apparatusspecifically designed for use in conjunction with an upstanding milkcarton or other similar container.

Another object of this invention is to provide an ice molding apparatusconstructed in a manner whereby different shaped ice cubes of single anddouble volume size may be selectively formed according to the manner inwhich the various panels of the apparatus are disposed within theupright container to be used in conjunction therewith.

A further object of this invention is to provide an ice moldingapparatus constructed in a manner whereby the various ice cubes formedthereby may be readily dislodged therefrom.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a ice moldingapparatus adapted to be utilized in conjunction with normally discardedmilk cartons or the like.

A final object of this invention to be specifically enumerated herein isto provide an ice molding apparatus in accordance with the precedingobjects which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be ofsimple construction and easy to use so as to provide a device that willbe economically feasible, long lasting and relatively trouble-free inoperation.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one of the pocketed panels of the icemolding apparatus as seen from the rear side of the panel;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the pocketed panel as seen from thefront side thereof;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the planar panel of the ice moldingapparatus;

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially upon a planepassing through the center of a disposable milk carton which has had itsupper end removed therefrom and with a plurality of the planar andpocketed panels disposed within the carton;

FIG. 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially upon a planeindicated by section line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a double size ice cube formed inconjunction with the ice molding apparatus of the instant invention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a single size ice cube formed with themolding apparatus of the instant invention;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of a further upright cartonhaving a plurality of modified molding panels disposed therein; and

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view similar to FIG. 4 butillustrating the manner in which five pocketed panels of slightly lessthickness may be received within a carton such as that illustrated inFIG.

4 without a planar panel also being used.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10generally designates the ice molding apparatus of the instant inventionwhich includes an upright upwardly opening carton 12, a plurality ofpocketed panels 14 and which may also include a planar panel 16, seeFIG. 4.

The carton 12 may comprise a discarded pasteboard milk carton of theplastic or wax coated type which has had its upper end removed therefromor unfolded to the fully open position. The carton 12 illustrated inFIGS. 4 and 5 has a first right hand pair of panels 14 disposed thereinand a second left hand pair of panels 14 disposed therein with a singleplanar panel 16 interposed between the adjacent pairs of panels.

From FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings it may be seen that the panels 14have vertically spaced rows of transversely spaced apart areas 20displaced outwardly to the back side of the panel wherebycorrespondingly forwardly opening pockets 22 are defined. Each of thepockets 22 includes a bottom wall 24, upper and lower end walls 26 and28, and opposite side walls 30, see FIGS. 4 and 5. The walls 26 and 28are slightly convergent toward the bottom wall 20 as are the walls 30.Thus, the pockets 22 are isosceles trapezoidal in horizontal andvertical cross sectional shape as taken upon planes disposed normal tothe bottom wall 24. In addition, with attention now invited morespecifically to FIG. 1, a plurality of rearwardly opening pockets 32 ofsimilar shape are defined between the areas 20 on the back sides of thepanels 14.

Thus, when the panels 14 and 16 are disposed within the carton 12 asillustrated in FIG. 4 of the drawings, single size ice cubes such asthat designated as at A are formed in the pockets 32 and double size icecubes such as that designated B in FIG. 6 are formed in the double sizepockets formed by the opposing pockets 22, see FIG. 4. Of course, if thepanels 16 were removed, double size ice cubes such as ice cubes B wouldbe formed in the opposing pockets 32 in the center of the container 12while the single size ice cubes A would be formed in the pockets 32which open toward the sides of the container 12.

The panels 14 and 16 are of course to be constructed of any suitablematerial such as plastic which is reasonably stiff and yet resilient andfrom which ice cubes formed in the container may be readily separated.Further, inasmuch as the carton 12 comprises a milk carton or the like,it may be readily torn to quickly remove the panels 14 and 16 as well asthe ice cubes formed thereby. On the other hand, if it is desired tore-use thecarton, after the entire assembly 10 has been removed from thefreezer, it may be allowed to set at room temperature for 5 or minutesduring which time the fiberous walls of the container 12 will transmitsufficient heat to loosen the walls of the container 12 from the icecubes and adjacent portions of the panels 14 whereby the panels 14 and16 may be readily withdrawn from the open upper end of the container l2.

With attention now invited more specifically to FIG. 9 of the drawingsthere will be seen a plurality of panels 14' which are substantiallyidentical to the panels 14 except that the pockets 22 and 32 formedthereby are not as deep as the pockets 22 and 32. Accordingly, five ofthe panels 14 may be received within the carton 12 and in this manner agreater number of single and double size ice cubes similar to ice cubesA and B may be formed without utilizing one of the planar panels 16.

With attention now invited more specifically to FIG. 8 of the drawings,there will be seen a plurality of still further modified panels 40 whichmay be considered somewhat corrugated in form and may be nested withinthe container 12 so as to divide the interior of the latter into aplurality of individual compartments in which water may be frozen toform cylindrical ice cubes as well as ice cubes of a shape correspondingto the voids between those adjacent panels 40 arranged in back-tobackrelation.

Thus, if may be seen that numerous shapes of ice cubes may be formed byutilizing divider panels of various configurations within an upstandingcanon such as a discarded milk carton which has had its upper endremoved or unfolded to the fully open position. Of course, suitableother cartons made especially to receive the panels 14 and 16 may beused. Such other cartons may also be constructed of stiff but resilientplastic material which will separate readily from the ice cubes to beformed and such other cartons will of course be re-usable.

With attention again invited to FIGS. 1-3 of the drawings it will benoted that each of the panels 14 and 16 includes an upwardly projectingtab portion 42. These tab portions project above the upper end of thecontainer 12 as illustrated in FIG. 4 of the drawings and are of courseprovided to enable the panels 14 and 16 to be readily withdrawn from thecontainer 12. In addi' tion, the tab portions 42 are provided withapertures 44 whereby they may be readily stored on a nail or hook in anotherwise unusable storage space. Further, the apertures 44 may beutilized to hang the panels 14 and 16 while drying after being washed.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous in if;erasesassistantsresumes tothe exact construction and operation shown and described, andaccordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resortedto, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. An ice cube divider assembly for downward displacement into the upperend of an upwardly opening container in which water may be frozen, saidassembly including a plurality of first generally planar upright panelsreversably superimposable relative to each other, each of said panelsincluding vertically spaced rows of transversely spaced apart areasdisplaced laterally outwardly of one side only of the panel, formingpockets in said panels closed at one set of corresponding ends andopening outwardly of the other side of the panel at the other set ofcorresponding ends, the areas in said rows of areas being spaced apartdistances substantially equal to the width of said pockets measuredalong said rows, the pockets of adjacent rows of pockets being staggeredrelative to each other whereby the pockets of one row of pockets arevertically registered with the spaces between adjacent pockets of anadjacent row of pockets, the spaces between adjacent outwardly displacedareas defining similar pockets opening outwardly of said one side ofsaid panel.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said pockets are generallyrectangular in plan shape as viewed from said other side of said panel.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said pockets are generallyisosceles trapezoidal in shape as viewed from both the upper and loweredges and the opposite side edges of said panel, the smaller dimensionedportions of said trapezoidal pockets defining the closed ends thereof.

1. An ice cube divider assembly for downward displacement into the upperend of an upwardly opening container in which water may be frozen, saidassembly including a plurality of first generally planar upright panelsreversably superimposable relative to each other, each of said panelsincluding vertically spaced rows of transversely spaced apart areasdisplaced laterally outwardly of one side only of the panel, formingpockets in said panels closed at one set of corresponding ends andopening outwardly of the other side of the panel at the other set ofcorresponding ends, the areas in said rows of areas being spaced apartdistances substantially equal to the width of said pockets measuredalong said rows, the pockets of adjacent rows of pockets being staggeredrelative to each other whereby the pockets of one row of pockets arevertically registered with the spaces between adjacent pockets of anadjacent row of pockets, the spaces between adjacent outwardly displacedareas defining similar pockets opening outwardly of said one side ofsaid panel.
 2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said pockets aregenerally rectangular in plan shape as viewed from said other side ofsaid panel.
 3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said pockets aregenerally isosceles trapezoidal in shape as viewed from both the upperand lower edges and the opposite side edges of said panel, the smallerdimensioned portions of said trapezoidal pockets defining the closedends thereof.